The EU-LAC Foundation supported the holding of the 7th Seminar in Lisbon titled “The European Union and Latin America and the Caribbean: Beyond Dialogue”, organised by the Euroamérica Foundation, which took place on 26 June at the Casa da América Latina in the Portuguese capital. The event brought together institutional representatives, experts, private sector actors, and multilateral organisations.
The Executive Director of the EU-LAC Foundation, Alberto Brunori, opened the event’s first session, which focused on the 4th EU-CELAC Summit, scheduled to take place in November 2025 in Santa Marta, Colombia. During the session, participants reflected on the priorities and strategic objectives of this bi-regional meeting, as well as expectations and challenges. Discussions also addressed the importance of civil society and private sector spaces within the framework of the Summit, and the need for tangible outcomes to strengthen the bi-regional partnership.
Francisco Gutiérrez (Director of Mechanisms for Regional Coordination and Integration at the Colombian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, with Colombia currently holding the Pro Tempore Presidency of CELAC) delivered an opening statement focusing on the current context of EU-CELAC relations, as well as the challenges and issues to be addressed at the Summit.
Subsequently, Tomás Reyes Ortega (Chair of the Working Group – Latin America, Caribbean (COLAC) and Transatlantic Relations (COTRA), European External Action Service) underlined the significance of the upcoming gathering in reinforcing strategic alliances.
Finally, María Jimena Durán (Senior Executive of Global Partnerships at CAF – Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean) shared details about the organisation of the EU-CELAC Business Summit to be held in conjunction with the fourth bi-regional Summit.
The EU-LAC Foundation is accompanying the path towards the 4th EU-CELAC Summit through a series of events aimed at generating inputs that will contribute to the highest-level political meeting between the two regions.
During the 7th Seminar in Lisbon, “The European Union and Latin America and the Caribbean: Beyond Dialogue”, other key topics on the bi-regional agenda were also discussed, including the signing and significance of the EU–Mercosur Association Agreement, as well as the opportunities and development of the agri-food sector on both sides of the Atlantic. Distribution and logistics were also addressed.
